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Oct 11, 2016 | 01:36

Matthew death toll rises to 14 in North Carolina

An emotional North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory says the confirmed death toll in his state from Hurricane Matthew and its aftermath has risen to 14 people, and gives a stern warning to residents to stay out of the floodwaters. Rough Cut

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ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
STORY: An emotional North Carolina Governor on Tuesday (October 11) said the death toll in his state from Hurricane Matthew and its aftermath has risen to 14 people.
Gov. Pat McCrory briefed reporters on the latest storm-related updates in the stricken state, stopping briefly to regain his composure more than once.
He said he was especially moved after visiting one shelter where he saw some 800 people taking refuge from flood waters, saying that the poor who have little to go back to will be particularly impacted as they try to recover from the storm.
Officials warned that life-threatening flooding from swollen rivers would continue for days.
Matthew, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007, was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday.
North Carolina's skies were clear on Monday after the state received as much as 18 inches (39 cm) of rain from Matthew over the weekend, but raging rivers and breached levees posed major problems.
The flooding prompted President Barack Obama to declare a state of emergency in North Carolina on Monday, making federal funding available to affected individuals in 10 counties hit by the storm, the White House said in a statement.
Some 2,000 residents were stuck in their homes and on rooftops in Lumberton, off the Lumber River, after the city flooded suddenly on Monday morning, McCrory said. Air and water rescues would continue throughout the day, he said.
Many of the homes and businesses in Lumberton were flooded with several feet of water on Monday afternoon and residents were seen paddling about the town in small skiffs.
Major flooding was expected this week in central and eastern towns along the Lumber, Cape Fear, Neuse and Tar rivers. The National Weather Service said the Neuse River would crest on Friday night and forecast "disastrous flooding."
Emergency officials in North Carolina's Lenoir County issued a mandatory evacuation order on Monday afternoon for residents and businesses along the Neuse River.

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